Portland Trail Blazers: 5 teams who could trade for Damian Lillard
Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are brought up anytime a star player is on the market or approaching free agency. A major reason is they are a proven destination for players and in the era of player agency that gives you leverage in trades and contract negotiations.
Fresh off a tumultuous, COVID-wrecked season with a brutal ending, the Heat will look to turn over every stone to improve heading into next year. This was supposed to be the summer where the Heat signed their third star, and they kept the powder dry for such a moment. Unfortunately, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis and Paul George all took themselves off the market. Unless Kawhi Leonard decides to leave the LA Clippers, the Heat need another avenue to a star.
Trade package: Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to Portland; Damian Lillard to Miami
This deal ends up something like “everything but the kitchen sink” as the Heat try to stack enough assets to bring back Damian Lillard. Dragic has a team option that the Heat will pick up in order to match enough salary to make this work. He is a useful enough guard that the Trail Blazers can start him if they want to stay competitive.
Tyler Herro had a down season after his hot streak in the NBA Bubble, but he is still a valuable piece in the trade and could become an All-Star down the line if things break right. Precious Achiuwa, the Heat’s 2020 first-round pick, is an energetic big with three more years on his rookie contract. Finally, the Heat can trade their 2025 and 2027 first-round picks now if they remove the restrictions on their 2023 pick owed to Oklahoma City (or if they work out a balance with Portland on protections).
Trading for Lillard would give the Heat a trio of stars to rival any in the league. The Heat would be left with a four-player core of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Lillard and Duncan Robinson and would need to build out a rotation from there. Ring chasers would surely love to set up shop in South Beach.
From the Portland side, this would give them a guard with a chance to grow into a star, and a collection of talent around him. It’s probably not the best total package, but it’s appealing because they get a very talented young player on a cheap contract.